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United States Patent |
5,201,914
|
Hollick
|
April 13, 1993
|
Electrical connector
Abstract
An electrical connector includes a socket adapted to receive an end of an
electrical conductor (32). The socket comprises an open channel member
(14) into which the end of the conductor (32) may be laid, a cover member
(22) which together with the open channel member (14) surrounds the end of
the conductor (32), and a sleeve member (26) fitting, in use, around the
open channel member (14) and the cover member (22). The cover member (22)
and the sleeve member (26) have corresponding apertures (24,28) which
together constitute a threaded bore through which extends a locking screw
(29) for releasably securing the end of the electrical conductor (32) to
the open channel member (14).
Inventors:
|
Hollick; David J. (Chinnor, GB2)
|
Assignee:
|
B & H (Nottm) Ltd. (GB2)
|
Appl. No.:
|
809881 |
Filed:
|
December 17, 1991 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Dec 18, 1990[GB] | 9027369 |
| Sep 14, 1991[GB] | 9119694 |
Current U.S. Class: |
439/801; 439/810; D13/149 |
Intern'l Class: |
H01R 004/30 |
Field of Search: |
439/801,812,813,811,814,810
179/84 S,88 S
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
2399028 | Apr., 1946 | Hermann | 439/811.
|
3125397 | Mar., 1964 | McGrath | 439/811.
|
3836941 | Sep., 1974 | Izraeli | 439/810.
|
4533205 | Aug., 1985 | Frank | 339/247.
|
4795365 | Jan., 1989 | Johnston et al. | 439/411.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
647530 | Jul., 1937 | DE2 | 439/811.
|
808054 | Jul., 1951 | DE | 179/84.
|
923562 | Feb., 1955 | DE | 439/812.
|
865588 | Apr., 1961 | GB.
| |
1432389 | Apr., 1976 | GB.
| |
1433946 | Apr., 1976 | GB.
| |
1525843 | Sep., 1978 | GB.
| |
2059191 | Apr., 1981 | GB.
| |
Primary Examiner: Desmond; Eugene F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Marshall, O'Toole, Gerstein, Murray & Bicknell
Claims
I claim:
1. An electrical connector for end-to-end connection of electrical
conductors, said connector having a plurality of sockets, each of said
sockets being adapted to receive an end of an electrical conductor, at
least one of said sockets comprising
an open channel member into which the end of the conductor may be laid
laterally,
a cover member which, in use, when placed over said open channel member,
together with said open channel member surrounds the end of the conductor,
a sleeve member fitting, in use, around said open channel member and said
cover member,
said cover member and said sleeve member having corresponding apertures
which together constitute a threaded bore, and
a locking screw extending through said threaded bore to engage the
conductor, thereby releasably securing the end of the conductor to said
open channel member.
2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said open channel member is
part-cylindrical.
3. A connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said open channel member is
of generally semi-circular cross-section.
4. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover member is
part-cylindrical.
5. A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cover member is of
generally semi-circular cross-section.
6. A connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more
sockets of generally conventional form, comprising a tube with one or more
threaded bores and locking screws extending through said threaded bores.
7. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the threaded bore is provided
only in said cover member, said sleeve member serving only to hold the
various components together.
8. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said open channel member and
said cover member are provided with keying engagement means.
Description
This invention relates to a connector for use with electrical cables.
Cable connectors are used frequently in the electrical field for
electrically connecting or terminating lengths of cables. Cable connectors
can be used for any size of cable, but with those that are presently
available (which typically comprise a generally cylindrical body with a
bore at each end into which the cable ends are inserted) it is difficult
to manipulate relatively large diameter cables into position because the
cables are not flexible enough.
This problem is particularly acute when, as is most commonly the case, such
connectors are used when the cables are already in position. As a result,
the connector must be inserted between the juxtaposed ends of the cables.
Consequently, a great deal of effort is required to manoeuvre and
manipulate the cables into both ends of a connector. Alternatively, a
greater length of cable must be freed to enable the joint to be made than
would otherwise be desired.
UK Patent Application No 2059191A discloses a terminal assembly for a
cartridge fuse, comprising a cradle to receive the end of a cable and a
collar fitting about the cradle. In use, the collar is fitted over the
cradle before the cable end is inserted.
UK Patent No 1432389 discloses a number of electrical connectors, including
one comprising a channel of generally semi-circular cross-section fitting
closely within a tube formed from a spirally-wound strap. Once again,
connection is made by insertion of the cable end into the open end of the
tube.
This invention owes nothing to these prior disclosures and seeks to provide
an improved connector.
According to the invention, there is provided an electrical connector
having a socket adapted to receive an end of an electrical conductor, the
socket comprising
an open channel member into which the end of the conductor may be laid,
a cover member which together with the open channel member surrounds the
end of the conductor, and
a sleeve member fitting, in use, around the open channel member and the
cover member,
the cover member and the sleeve member having corresponding apertures which
together constitute a threaded bore through which extends a locking screw
for releasably securing the end of the electrical conductor to the open
channel member.
The connector according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that
it facilitates the connection of cables, especially relatively inflexible
cables. Also, the length of cable which must be freed to enable a joint to
be made may be less than is the case with conventional connectors.
The open channel member is preferably part-cylindrical, most preferably
being of generally semi-circular cross-section.
The cover member is preferably also part-cylindrical, also being most
preferably of generally semi-circular cross-section, such that the open
channel member and the cover member together form a tube which receives
the end of the conductor.
The bores into which the cable ends are inserted (which are defined by the
open channel member and the cover member) may be, for example, circular or
may have the form described in our copending UK Patent Application No
9110363.0.
The connector according to the invention will be provided with a number of
sockets corresponding to the number of cables to be connected. The sockets
may all be of the form described, i.e. comprising an open channel member,
a cover member and a sleeve member. However, for ease of use, it is
generally preferred that one or more of the sockets be of generally
conventional form, ie comprising a tube with one or more threaded bores
through which extend locking screws. In use, the connector is connected
first to one or more conductors using conventional sockets, the sockets
comprising open channel member and cover member then being used for
connection to further conductors.
Most commonly, the connector comprises two or three sockets.
Referring once again to the socket constructed in accordance with the
present invention, the threaded bore(s) are preferably provided only in
the cover member (which may be of relatively thick construction), the
sleeve member serving only to hold the various components together.
The open channel member and the cover member are preferably provided with
keying engagement means, e.g. in the form of corresponding projections and
recesses. This prevents slippage of these components along the axis of the
socket, thereby increasing the mechanical strength of the connection.
The connector according to the invention may be manufactured from any of
the materials commonly used for the manufacture of conventional
connectors. In general, any materials having the requisite mechanical
strength and providing the necessary electrical connection may be used.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of connecting an electrical conductor to a connector as claimed in
claim 1, which method comprises
passing the end of the conductor through the sleeve member,
laying the end of the conductor in the open channel member,
placing the cover member over the end of the conductor so as to surround
the end of the conductor,
positioning the sleeve member around the cover member and the open channel
member,
locating the locking screw in the threaded bore constituted by the
apertures in the cover member and the sleeve member, and
tightening the locking screw to as to secure the end of the conductor to
the open channel member.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
FIGS. 1 to 5 are perspective views of a first embodiment of a connector
according to the present invention, illustrating the stages in the
securement of electrical cables thereto;
FIG. 6 is an end view of the connector of FIGS. 1 to 5, fully assembled;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of part of a second embodiment of a connector
according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a disassembled side view of a third embodiment of a connector
according to the invention;
FIG. 9 is a view along the line B--B in FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 is a partial side view of a modified version of the connector of
FIG. 1.
Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 5, a connector body (designated generally by
the numeral 10) comprises a socket portion 12 and an open channel member
14. The socket portion 12 is of tubular configuration, having a blind bore
which in use receives an end of a cable 30, and includes two
screw-threaded apertures 18 into which bolts 19 (see FIG. 5) are screwed
to clamp the cable end in position. The open channel 14 is of
part-cylindrical configuration, and includes a channel 20 which in use
receives an end of another cable 32. The member 14 co-operates with a
part-cylindrical cover member 22 which is placed thereon to close the
channel 20, and thus form a second blind bore 21. The cover member 22 is
provided with two screw-threaded apertures 24 axially aligned with the
apertures 18 of member 12.
The cover member 22 is retained in position by means of a tubular sleeve 26
which surrounds the part-cylindrical member 14 and the cover member 22.
This sleeve 26 is provided with two plain apertures 28, through which
screw-threaded bolts 29 (see FIG. 5) are passed for threaded engagement
with the apertures 24 in the cover member 22.
In use, the connector 10 is used to join together the cables 30 and 32
after these have been installed in position. Typically, these cables are
11 kV power distribution cables and are relatively inflexible. Firstly,
the end of cable 30 is inserted into the blind bore in the tubular socket
portion 12. The sleeve 26 is then passed over the end of the cable 32, and
the connector 10 is manoeuvred to bring the cable 32 into the channel 20
in the open channel member 14 (see FIG. 2). The cover member 22 is then
placed over the open channel member 14 so that these two parts together
surround the end of cable 32, following which the sleeve 26 is slid from
the cable 32 onto the connector 10 to surround both the open channel
member 14 and the cover member 22.
The plain apertures 28 in the sleeve 26 are then aligned with the
screw-threaded apertures 24, and the bolts 19 and 20 then screwed into
their respective apertures 18 and 24 to retain the cable ends in position,
and also thereby effect a secure electrical connection between the cables.
Alternatively, the bolts 19 can be used to secure the end of cable 30 as
soon as this is inserted into the support member 12. The bolts 19 and/or
29 can be normal bolts, or can be shear head bolts whose heads shear off
as soon as the bolts have been screwed into proper engagement with the
cables.
As can be seen from FIG. 6 the blind bore 21 (and likewise the blind bore
in member 12) is offset from the centre of the connector. This increases
the depth of the threaded bores 24 (and 18) without increasing the amount
of material in the connector, and hence its weight.
FIG. 7 shows part of a second connector, comprising a connector body 40,
having two socket portions 42 and 44, and an open channel member 46. The
socket portions 42 and 44 are formed as a single unit 48 and have
respective blind bores 50 and 52 parallel to one another extending into
the unit from one end of the connector body 40. Each of the bores 50 and
52 is provided with two screw-threaded apertures 51 and 53 into which
bolts identical to those shown in FIG. 5 are screwed to clamp a respective
cable end in position. The open channel member 46 extends from a point
generally mid-way between the ends of the bores 50 and 52. The open
channel member 46 is of part-cylindrical configuration and co-operates
with a cover member and a sleeve (not shown) in exactly the same manner as
the open channel member 14 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 to retain a
further cable end in position.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 comprises a single part-cylindrical
open channel member 71 and a part-cylindrical cover member 72, which
together form a cylindrical connector with a circular through bore. The
wall thickness of the cover member 72 is greater than that of the support
member 71, such that the bore is offset from the centre of the cylinder.
The cover member 72 is provided with four threaded apertures 73 which
receive threaded bolts as in the embodiment previously described. A pair
of sleeves 74, 75 are used to hold the assembly together, each sleeve
having a pair of plain apertures 76, 77 corresponding to the threaded
apertures 73.
In use, the sleeves 74, 75 are slipped over the ends of two cables to be
joined. The support member 71 is then placed beneath the cable ends such
that the cables meet near the middle of the member 71. The cover member 72
is placed over the cable ends and the sleeves 74, 75 passed over the
cylindrical assembly. After alignment of the plain apertures 76, 77 with
the threaded apertures 73, the bolts (not shown) are screwed into the
threaded apertures 73.
In an alternative construction, the sleeves 74, 75 are replaced by a single
sleeve of full length and having four plain apertures. The sleeve is
slipped over the end of one of the cables to be joined prior to assembly
of the connector.
FIG. 10 shows a modified version of the connector of FIG. 1, in which the
open channel member 82 is provided with upwardly-extending projections 83
and the cover member 84 with corresponding recesses 85 into which the
projections 83 fit. It is equally possible, of course, for the projections
to be provided on the cover member and the recesses in the sides of the
open channel member.
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